Antidote to Fear

[Listen to this post on the AUDIO page]

Fighting an enemy bigger and stronger than you takes guts. And maybe some singing.

Maybe you saw the bumper sticker that said “Giant Meteor 2020: Just End It Already”. After all, what’s worse, getting annihilated suddenly by a big rock, or watching everything “normal” slip away by degrees? And the beat still goes on, even now. If it isn’t one thing, it’s another. It seems like there’s so much to be afraid of. I’d say it’s time for a new perspective, and a new answer to the question: What do we do when everything seems to be going to Hell in a hand basket? I believe an answer waits for us in 2 Chronicles 20. God has used this passage to encourage and challenge me; perhaps it will do the same for you.

2 Chronicles chapter 20 is worth reading in its entirety, but here’s a synopsis: King Jehoshaphat of Israel finds out that a huge and vindictive enemy army is on its way. His first response is to cry out to God: “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You”.

Verse 13 records that all Judah stood before the Lord at that moment: the men, their wives, and their children. It was families united in prayer for their nation. Then a prophet stood up from among the people and offered God’s response. “Listen,” he says, “Thus says the Lord to you, ‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God's. 16 Tomorrow go down against them... 17 You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the Lord will be with you.”

After that, the king and everybody bowed down and worshiped God. The next morning, they obediently prepared for battle as instructed. Jehoshaphat reminded everyone to “Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will succeed.” Then he did something crazy. He put the singers on the front line. Ever heard of a choir getting hazard pay? Well, those singers had one purpose: to praise God. They did that, and the enemy horde was so freaked out they stampeded around, blindly killing each other. Total annihilation. Meantime, what were God’s people doing? Not being afraid, standing firm, holding their positions, and watching God work.

We're living in a crazy time. How do we handle those huge and vindictive enemies, fear and discouragement? 2 Chronicles 20 offers us a godly strategy: Praise God first and always. Then pray with your family and fellow believers. Then, “go down against them”, and finally “stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf.” In the meantime, “do not be afraid and do not be dismayed.” Here is what I think those things can mean to us today:

Pray Together – 2 Chronicles 20:13 tells of Israel standing as families to pray. The family is God’s building block for righteous nations and to bring up children who love and serve Jehovah. We take a stand with and for our families because they matter to God.

Do Not Be Afraid – “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (that’s Romans 8:31) Staring down fear is easier said than done, but we can submit to His good will every day anyway, saying, “Father, Thy will be done.” Also, fear recedes when we remember we are not alone. God is with us (Emmanuel!), of course. And when we stand shoulder to shoulder with others of like mind and heart, we can encourage each other. Don’t let yourself get cut off from others. Call. Meet. Pray. And don’t be scared.

Go Down Against Them – I think this means we need to know what’s going on. Ignorance is not bliss. We have to know what we’re fighting for: the hearts and minds of our children, our constitutional rights, the lives of the unborn, or whatever. The Israelites didn’t run for the hills, they went straight down to the battlefield, and I’ll bet they were praying there like crazy. So when God calls, we go where the action is, and do our part for truth, praying all the while. And understand that the ultimate victory belongs to the Lord (Prov. 21:31).

Stand Firm – We can’t stand firm on sand. Man’s opinion is sand; reputation, possessions, and status are sand. We stand on the rock of God’s Word instead. We hold on to Christ our Rock and the Enemy can’t shake us loose. Know God’s ways, study His precepts. Stand firm.

Hold Your Position – God has given each of us gifts to use for His Glory. Whether it’s encouragement, organization, teaching, giving, hospitality, serving, communication, intercession, leadership, or any other gift, do it, enthusiastically, with purpose, for God and each other. We are the Body of Christ, and bodies work best when each part does its job.

See the Salvation of the Lord – a great promise, for us and for the lost. When we submit to God’s will, and step out in faith, God is faithful to save us – and others. “For the Lord loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed” (Ps. 37:28). We will encounter difficulties, but we are not alone, and God always prevails.

So there it is, Jehoshaphat’s battle plan: Pray Together, Don’t Be Afraid, Go Down Against Them, Stand Firm in Christ, Hold Your Position, and See the Salvation of the Lord. And remember: for King Jehoshaphat, the victory really began with praise. Let’s put our singers up front and praise the Lord with all our hearts. Because: “I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand on the earth.” (Job 19:25)